The March Up Country

The March Up Country (Anabasis) is a book by Xenophon, first published around 370 BC. This classic work of ancient Greek literature recounts the remarkable true story of the “March of the Ten Thousand,” in which a large army of Greek mercenaries found themselves stranded deep within the Persian Empire and forced to fight their way home. Written by Xenophon himself—who both participated in and later led the expedition—the narrative stands as one of the most compelling first-hand military accounts from antiquity.

The story begins with the ill-fated campaign of Cyrus the Younger, who sought to seize the Persian throne from his brother. After Cyrus is killed in battle, the Greek forces are left leaderless and surrounded by hostile territory. What follows is an extraordinary tale of survival, strategy, and endurance, as the army marches north through treacherous landscapes, facing betrayal, harsh winters, and relentless enemies. Xenophon’s clear and direct style makes this ancient history read with the tension and momentum of an adventure narrative.

Beyond its dramatic episodes, Anabasis offers valuable insight into ancient warfare, leadership under pressure, and the political realities of the classical world. Xenophon’s reflections on discipline, morale, and command have made the book a timeless study in military leadership and strategy, studied for centuries by historians, soldiers, and political thinkers alike.

Part travel narrative, part war memoir, and part historical chronicle, Anabasis remains one of the most important works of classical history. For readers interested in ancient Greece, Persian history, military campaigns, and first-hand historical accounts, it is an essential and enduring text.

This translation by Henry Graham Dakyns was first published in 1897.